Surfperch

Monterey Bay’s waters are rich with surfperch species, providing a fascinating sight for divers. Commonly observed species include the sleek black surfperch and the pile surfperch. These fish inhabit sandy bottoms, kelp forests, and rocky reefs, often near the shore. Surfperch play vital roles in the bay’s ecosystem, feeding on invertebrates and small crustaceans, and serving as prey for larger marine predators.